The Penn, says architectural historian Stephen Fox, was the sort of "high-rise" hotel that signaled prosperity in oil-rich 1920s Texas. In small cities such as Texarkana and Port Arthur, the Penn's designer, Joseph Finger, designed similar hotels that still stand as landmarks.

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Demolition of the Penn began Sunday, but preservationists didn't grow alarmed until Monday, when a wrecking ball knocked down a back corner of the building.

Houston's preservation laws, among the nation's weakest, do not require developers to notify the public of their intention to demolish a historic building unless it lies inside one of the city's tiny historic districts. And because of Spire's reputation, the building wasn't considered endangered.

Bush drives past the Penn every morning on his way to the preservation alliance's office. He said that even when he saw workers removing the Penn's plate-glass windows and tearing down an addition, he assumed Spire had begun renovation.

On Spire's Web site, the company describes itself as "one of the first ... to recognize the importance of the redevelopment and historic preservation of once derelict and neglected areas of downtown."

On Friday the site still listed the Penn among Spire's other properties — renovated historic buildings such as the Sam Houston Hotel, the Old Cotton Exchange and Bayou Lofts.

Next to a photo of the Penn, the site describes Spire's original plans: "We are in the early stages of evaluating the highest and best use for this building, so that we may bring this fine historic structure back to life."

That evaluation showed that the hotel's low ceilings and small spaces made it difficult to market, said Brady Wilkins, senior vice president of Spire.

Once Spire decided not to renovate the building, Wilkins said, the company chose to demolish it — in part to save the cost of paying liability insurance on it.

Bush laments that Spire didn't try to sell the land with the hotel still on it, so that perhaps a new buyer could find a way to save the building. "As long as a building is there, there's hope," he said.

"Besides, we already have enough empty blocks in downtown Houston."

Ironically, Bush notes, in 2003 the preservation alliance awarded Spire one of its Good Brick Awards for "commitment to historic preservation in downtown Houston."